West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-09-09
GIBSON AND MCGINNIS.

uc SitSui1 uuoS Va NapS'i "h~"
and imprisoned ex-Congressman
Gibson for an alleged contempt. One
of the papers prints the following
letter from Mr.. Gibson.
1T is we'll understood here that
the Judges action was from purely
personal motives.
In 1878 L received letters from
clients in Baltimore, Md, and Abing-
don, Va, asking me to take steps to
disbar Ira j. McGinnis, then prac-
ticing law in this county, for collect
ing considerable sums of money for
them while rracticing law in Abing-
don, Va, and running away from
there in the night time with the
money.
told Mr. McGinnis of these let
tiers, but declined to have anything
further to do with the case than To
advise him to settle the claims the
best he could. This he promised to
do (but has never to this day done)
saving he had lost the money at
cards, of all which | advised my
clients.
From this time on he seemed To
have formed u personal enmity to
me; and some years afterwards.
when was a candidate for the Leg
islature, he undertook to run against
me and was disgracefully beaten in
the convention, getting only II votes
out of sixty-three.
He then fonpay or money, sold him
self to the opposing candidate, and
stumped the county against me, the
nominee of the convention.
Some years afterward, by express
sions of repentance and promises TO
my friends, and by reasons OF there
being numerous candidates in the
field, by accident rather than by
any merit of his, he succeeded in be.
ing elected Judge of this Circuit.
He was no sooner elected than he
commenced most bruta! course Of
insolence and lying poltroonery to
wards myself and other members Of
his bar, whom he disliked, forcing
me repeatedly to rebuke him in
Court and denounce him out Of
Court.
On Friday before the alleged con
tempt in the Court House yard, he
got into a quarrel with Il. j. McCo-
mass prominent attorney who cursed
him and threatend to thrash him on
the spot for language he had used.
To get out of this difficulty. Mr..
McGinnis, within presence Of large
number ofpeople, told Mr.. McCamas
that he did not mean his insulting
language for him, but for me.
i was not in Court that day, and
had never had anything to do with
the matter in controversy.
On Tuesday following / went to
Court and on arising to make mo-
ton, was greeted with some Of his
usual insolence,fo which / promptly
rebuked him, to which he submitted
silently. Atterward, on the recess
of Court, in the presence of the same
people before whom he spoke of me
on Friday, in the Courthouse yard
and in his presence, / bitterly de
nounced him for what he said TO Mr..
McCamas. Too cowardly to resent
it, he went into the Court House,
commenced his Court, and, without
any notice to me and in my absence,
inquired Of some gentleman what !
had said, but no statement Of theirs.
was ever reduced to writing, nor do
know to this day what they said.
He then issued q rule, returnable
on the next day. Promptly an
swered that rule, asked for an issue.
and proposed TO prove the facts
stated in my answer.
He thereupon abandoned proceed
ings on biz rule, aud handed me
specifications of charges referring to
things / had said about him as
candidate tor reelection, and to ex-
pressions he alleged / had used IN
arguing a case in his Court several
weeks before. He refused TO hold
any trial. refused to hear any ev'.
dence, saying that had insulted
the Court and jury in open Court
This he knew was palpable lie
and would be so proven by all me
jurors and members Of the par
therefore he would allow no trial.
but sentenced me to ten days con,
finement in Jail and to pay line o'
fifty dollars.
From this order appealed anu
prepared bill of exceptions, asKins
the usual suspension until Juuss
IF tho Court of Anpeals could pass